{{Short description|Public rapid transit system in Pakistan}} {{Infobox bus line |number = Multan Metrobus |logo = Punjab Metrobus Authority Logo.png |logo_width = |image = |image_width = |caption = |bgcolor = #{{LahoreMetrobus color|red}} |titlecolor = #ffffff |routetype = [[Bus rapid transit]] |status = |system = [[Lahore Metrobus]] |operator = [[Government of Punjab, Pakistan]]<br>[[Government of Pakistan]] |vehicle = |locale = [[Multan]], [[Punjab, Pakistan]], |start = [[Bahauddin Zakariya University|Bahauddin Zakariya University Terminal]] |via = | end = Kumharanwala Chowk Terminal |stops = 21 |ridership = |open = {{start date and age|2017|1|24}} |frequency = |fare = |map = {{MultanMetrobus}} |map_state = show |}}
The '''Multan Metrobus''' is a [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT) system in [[Multan]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-06-06 |title=Work on Multan Metro Bus to begin on August 14 |url=https://nation.com.pk/06-Jun-2014/work-on-multan-metro-bus-to-begin-on-august-14 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]] |language=en}}</ref> Construction work on the line began in May 2015, while operations commenced on 24 January 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-01-24 |title='This is Naya Pakistan': PM inaugurates Rs29bn Metro Bus Project in Multan |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1310439 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref> It was the third BRT project in Pakistan, after the [[Lahore Metrobus]] and the [[Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-13 |title=Metro bus project a benchmark for South Punjab: CM |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1529659/metro-bus-project-benchmark-south-punjab-cm |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
==Design== The Multan Metro route is {{convert|18.5|km|mi}} long,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shakeel |first=Madiha |date=2017-01-24 |title=PM inaugurates Multan Metro Bus project |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/335473 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[Business Recorder]] |language=en}}</ref> with a {{convert|12.5|km|mi}} elevated section. It has 21 bus stations, with 14 elevated stations and seven ground-level stations. The bus stations have been constructed with Multan's extreme hot and cold weather in mind.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=24 January 2017 |title=PM inaugurates Multan Metro Bus Service - Pakistan - Dunya News |url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/371872-PM-inaugurates-Multan-Metro-Bus-Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202093125/http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/371872-PM-inaugurates-Multan-Metro-Bus-Service |archive-date=2 February 2017 |website=[[Dunya News]]}}</ref> Each bus, typically, can carry 190 passengers.<ref name=":1" /> A private company will run the bus service for the time being.
Nearly 96,000 commuters are expected to use Multan Metrobus service every day.<ref name=":0" /> The official reports reported cost of Rs. 29 billion for {{convert|18.5|km|mi}},<ref name=":1" /> making it Rs 1.61 billion per kilometer.
==Operational problems of project== Multan Metrobus service was started with 47 buses. However, the service was unable to meet its target of 90,000+ passengers. After experiencing losses, ten buses were sent to the Lahore Metrobus project. Nevertheless, the remaining 37 buses were still unable to attain viable passengers.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=440v2WJu8Vs Metro stations collapsed, feeder buses to revive Multan metro bus: Jaag TV</ref> To prevent the service from collapsing, 19 buses were parked and strength was reduced to 18.<ref>{{Citation |title=Multan: Metro bus route looks deserted | date=24 April 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g5VovRtiPc |language=en |access-date=2022-10-02}}</ref>
Furthermore, 100 more feeder bus services were bought in the first phase, feeding passengers to the remaining 18 buses from far-flung areas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haq |first=Shahram |date=2017-06-29 |title=Multan's Feeder Bus Service to be operational in July |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1446501/multans-feeder-bus-service-operational-july |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref> Later, 100 more buses were imported to make a total of 200, accommodating all possible routes in Multan. Afterward, Speedo buses were also reduced from 200 to 115 after a few months attributed to empty buses and lack of public interest.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlfzfFh6cJY&t=63s failure of Speedo bus service: Lahore news</ref> Despite all measures taken by the [[Government of Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab government]], the project sustained high annual losses due to the subsidized rate provided in the project. Several reasons for the failure of the project included: *Poor route planning and design of the project.<ref>https://www.newstv.pk/2018/03/27/poorly-designed-route-planning-for-multan-metro-project-failed-to-deliver-27-march-2018/ Poor route plan of Multan metro bus</ref> *Difficult ticketing systems i.e. the electronic card used in the project and expensive card load requirements. *Qinqi [[rickshaw]]s operating on same routes as the metro bus are cheaper and quicker.
==Allegation and probe== An alleged scandal emerged on 29 January 2015, after Chinese firm Yabaite-China associated a huge amount of money in their accounts, flowing from the Pakistan-associated Multan metro project. It was revealed in an allegedly $17.5 million corruption scandal that a construction contract was awarded to Habib Rafiq Private Limited. Some part of the project was outsourced to Capital Engineering, a company owned by Faisal Subhan (alleged frontman of the [[Sharif family]]). Capital Engineering allegedly made suspicious deals with Jiangsu Yabaite Technology Co. Ltd, which possibly have provided a kickback to the former [[Chief Minister of Punjab (Pakistan)|Chief Minister of Punjab]], [[Shehbaz Sharif]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rana |first=Shahbaz |date=2017-09-13 |title=Multan metro bus: Senate panel grills SECP for stagnant corruption probe |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1505560/probe-alleged-corruption-multan-metro-deepen |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref> However, Sharif outrightly rejected the allegations and termed Faisal Subhan as a fictitious character. "I have done no corruption, I am ready for any probe", he added.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Rameez |date=2018-03-01 |title=Faisal Subhan is a fictional character, claims Shehbaz |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1648805/1-faisal-subhan-fictional-character-claims-shehbaz |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref>
Despite all allegations, Zafar Hijazi, ex-chairman [[Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan]] (SECP), refused to forward the case to [[Federal Investigation Agency|FIA]] and start an inquiry against capital international or Yabaite China. However, after Hijazi was arrested in a record tampering case in August 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Imran |first=Mohammad |date=2017-10-27 |title=Ex-SECP chief Zafar Hijazi indicted for tampering record of Sharif family's mills |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1366593 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref> SECP finally moved the money laundering cases against Chinese firm to FIA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Kalbe |date=2017-08-31 |title=SECP sends money laundering case against Chinese firm to FIA |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1355017 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref> In October 2017, the [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]] standing committee of finance noted serious reservations on corruption scam in Multan metro. It was noted that Hijazi, who changed the record for the Sharif family, held the Multan metro corruption cases and impeded its referral to FIA, raising further suspicions. Multan metro initiated the first ever high-profile money laundering case against any Chinese firm.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 August 2017 |title=Pakistan launches first-ever probe against a Chinese firm in a money laundering case |work=[[The Economic Times]] |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/pak-to-probe-money-laundering-case-against-chinese-firm/articleshow/60307534.cms |access-date=2022-10-02}}</ref>
After the Senate committee took up the case of Multan metro corruption, and SECP referred the associated money laundering case in October 2017, [[National Accountability Bureau|NAB]] finally took notice of the mega corruption scandal and ordered a probe into misappropriate of funds and use of substandard materials.<ref>https://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2017/10/nab-chief-orders-inquiries-into-multan-metro-pia-scandals/ NAB ordered inquiry on Multan metro corruption</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-24 |title=NAB to probe all mega corruption cases including Multan Metro, aircraft sale |url=https://thefrontierpost.com/nab-probe-mega-corruption-cases-including-multan-metro-aircraft-sale/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[The Frontier Post]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2018, NAB finally started the proceedings after long controversies and delays.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-07 |title=Scam unearthed: NAB likely to summon CM in Multan Metro inquiry |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1628957/1-scam-unearthed-nab-likely-summon-cm-multan-metro-inquiry |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref> Nadir Chatta, the [[Deputy Commissioner (Pakistan)|Deputy Commissioner]] of Multan, faced interrogation from NAB on violation or procedures while purchase of land.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-27 |title=Metro Bus corruption: Multan DC Nadir Chattha appears before NAB |url=https://92newshd.tv/about/metro-bus-corruption-multan-dc-nadir-chattha-appears-nab |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[92 News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> However, on 31 August 2017, acting Chinese ambassador, [[Zhao Lijian]], rejected the allegations by saying that Yabaite was not operating in Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-09-01 |title=Chinese envoy rejects allegations of corruption in Multan Metro Bus project |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1355368 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Rapid transit in Pakistan]] *[[Lahore Metrobus]] *[[Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus]] *[[Karachi Metrobus]] *[[TransPeshawar]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Bus rapid transit in Pakistan}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Transport in Multan]] [[Category:Bus rapid transit in Pakistan]] [[Category:Bus rapid transit]]